TROUBLED PAST
Curse of ‘saddest ever’ Grand Designs house takes another twist as spectacular clifftop mansion goes up for sale
The 'nightmare' project started life in 2010 but ran into trouble
THE sorry saga of the “saddest ever” Grand Designs property rumbles on as the clifftop mansion goes on the market – and there’s a twist in the tale.
Chesil Cliff House near Braunton, North Devon, cost owner Edward Short his marriage and saw him in debt to the tune of a massive £7million.
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The stunning coastal mansion, which was designed to resemble a lighthouse, ran into development issues and took 12 years to build.
It has now been listed for sale this week – through debt collectors.
Mr Short initially started out on a budget of £1.8million and had hoped for the project to be done in 18 months.
Over the years, Mr Short has battled to complete the adventurous project he started in 2010 - but managed to create a stunning property against all odds.
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The unfinished property went on the market but it was removed from an estate agent’s site with talk of their being a “serious buyer” – but they then pulled out at the last minute.
It appears the spacious home is now back up for sale again but this time through Law of Property Act receivers, which indicated the sale is part of debts being resettled.
The listing says: "Savills are appointed on the instructions of Joint Receivers: H.Varsani & M.Yianni (Belleveue Mortlakes Chartered Surveyors & LPA Receivers)."
According to Rightmove, the five-bedroom house has a price tag of £5.25m, offering a potential buyer a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to take on and complete one of the UK’s "most spectacularly situated coastal homes".
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The new Rightmove listing went up on January 26 on behalf of luxury property merchant Savills, describing the home as a "bespoke design brought to life through impressive engineering".
In the listing, it says plans for a helipad at the luxury home have been approved and boasts the clifftop property near to the village of Croyde offers panoramic coastal views.
The listing adds: "The property represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to take on and finish the specification and fit out of one of the UK’s most spectacularly situated coastal homes.
“The bespoke design has been brought to life through impressive engineering, with the building being anchored to the bed rock, blending whitewashed elevations with steel and glass, culminating with a lighthouse feature at one end giving almost 360 degree views of the coastline.
"The position combines privacy with a diverse range of breath-taking views, all set in around 3 acres, which includes a large area of foreshore, a private tidal beach area and coves."
The property is set in three acres of land and is equipped with an infinity pool and a hot tub as well as a spacious driveway.
Nic Chbat, director of Match Property estate agents in North Devon, who previously assisted with finding a buyer last year said at the time the sale stalled after the timeframe for the sale "expired".
He added the previous buyer was “still wanting to buy the property,” and the sale was still expected to proceed.
The new listing though would suggest the purchase was never made with the sale now being handled by London-based estate agents Savills.
A spokeswoman for both Savills and the receivers Bellevue Mortlakes said: "The sale represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase one of the UK’s most spectacularly situated coastal homes and for the buyer to put the finishing touches to the property’s interior to their own specification.
“The current sale price (offers in excess of £5.25m) represents fair value noting the prevailing economic and heterogeneous nature of this opportunity.
"The property has panoramic sea views and is set in grounds of over three acres, including foreshore and a tidal beach, with accommodation extending to over 6,260 sq ft.
“The detached guest lodge/holiday let accommodation extends to about 1,270 sq ft and is included in the sale price.
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“Subject to registration with the agents, the receiver has provided an extensive suite of information and supporting documentation relating to the buildings history, construction and title, which are available via an online data room."
Mr Short began the "nightmare" project in 2010, with an 18-month plan to complete the coastal mansion - but by 2019 Kevin McCloud described it on Grand Designs as the “carcass” of a seashore wreckage.
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